Perfect Conditions for FishingMick Morris | First Published: July 2006

Heaps of families and anglers have taken advantage of the perfect conditions that we’ve been having lately, and most haven’t been disappointed as the fish are firing with great catches of bream, tailor and flathead.

Bream are everywhere at the moment with most reports of small to medium-sized fish making up the bulk of catches, only a couple of whoppers have been weighed in. The best weighed nearly 1kg and was caught at the eastern tip of Short Island. The other bream hot spots are Kalinga Bank, the mouth of Whalley’s Gutter, Tipplers Island and the surf off South Straddie.

A lot of chopper tailor are about at the moment and with white birds feeding on the baitfish it’s very easy to find them. The best time has been at first light. Small pilchards and metal lures are the best way to hook a tailor when they are chopping, but if you don’t time your trip right or they’re hard to find then drifting around the ‘Pin with a pillie or whitebait on a single hook is a good way to locate them.

Drifting pilchards is always a good way to go along Kalinga Bank and from the bar to Short Island as you can catch lots of species while covering a lot of ground. Just be aware of other boats and anglers as your fishing lines can tangle with theirs or their anchor ropes.

Flathead are usually picked up on the drift and there have been plenty around throughout the bar area and from Kalinga Bank to Crusoe Island. Cobby Passage, the northern entrance to Mackenzies Channel and Cabbage Tree Point have all been producing some good lizards.

Warren Huth recently caught a quality jew from the river. We also had some good reports of school jew from the hole near Swan Bay with live whiting, worms and tailor fillets working well.

The odd whiting has been caught but not too many over 30cm. The sand banks at the top of Crusoe Island, Slipping Sands, Cabbage Tree Point and along South Straddie off the beach have produced some larger whiting and big sea bream on worms, pipis and mullet gut.

Thanks for all reports and if you have any questions on conditions or what’s biting drop us a line at Gem Bait & Tackle on (07) 3287 3868 or email --e-mail address hidden-- .